The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, has expressed concern over the plight of the family of one ThankGod Bassey, a Police Inspector attached to the State Police Command, who was shot dead in the line of duty by armed hoodlums in Oron Local Government Area in December 2023.
The deceased Officer, LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered, was shot dead and his service rifle seized by the gunmen who kidnapped a female Judge he was attached with as an Orderly on their way to Uyo after the day’s work at Oron Judicial Division.
Touched by the noticeable absence of care for the family since the demise of the breadwinner, the NUJ, during the March 2024 Congress held at the NUJ Council in Uyo, appealed to the Governor Umo Eno – led administration to intervene with a view to giving a new lease of life to the deceased’s family.
The Congress chaired by Comrade Amos Etuk, therefore, stressed the need for urgent palliatives to cushion the pains of the family to prevent other unpleasant happenings.
Part of the communique reads: “We appeal to the State government to consider the plights of the widow and children of the slain Police officer, Mr. ThankGod Edet Bassey, which took place in Oron, in December, 2023.”
In its resolutions, the NUJ also commended Governor Eno on the inauguration of the Bulk Purchasing Agency (BPA) Board and provision of free food for the elderly and vulnerable residents and the award of contracts and flag-off of construction of various roads in the state, especially the Ring Road 3, EkirItam Akpanabong-Mbiaya Road projects.
“Congress appealed to the State government to link up Ikpanya community with neighbouring villages in Ibiono Ibom, Ikono and Ini LGAs with motorable roads,” the Communique read.
The NUJ in the congress also reiterated the need for the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission (EARCOM) to step up sensitization campaigns against cultism and truancy in secondary schools in the State.
It urged security agencies to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and the Local Education Committee to address the menace of cultism in Akwa Ibom State.
